Water heater



March 3, 1936. J J. LAVENDER 2,032,486

' WATER HEATER Filed July 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l JOHN J. LAVENDER INVENTOR BY I A ORNEY March 3, 1936.

J. J. LAVENDER WATER HEATER Filed July 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN J. LAVENDER INVENTOR Patented Mar. 3, 1936 PATENT OFFICE WATER. HEATER John J. Lavender, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to Lester M. Friedman, New York, N. Y.

Application July 2, 1935, Serial No. 29,500

7 Claims.

This invention relates to water heating systems involving heaters of the submerged type.

Special objects of the invention are to provide a simple, economical and efficient water heating system of the character mentioned, adapted to be readily installed and connected with present-day boiler and water circulation piping and which may be readily controlled and used to attain the most desirable results.

Further objects of the invention and the novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts by which all objects are attained will appear as the specification proceeds.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate certain practical embodiments of the invention, it being appreciated that the structure may be modified and changed as required to meet special conditions, all within the true spirit and broad scope of the invention.

29 Fig. 1 is a broken part sectional view illustrating a complete system.

Fig. 2 is a broken part sectional enlarged view of the submerged water heating unit.

Fig. 3 is a broken part sectional View illustrating the method of and apparatus for effecting assemblage of the tubes and end headers of the heater unit.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail as on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a broken part sectional detail illustrating the feature of tinning the tube ends and the tube seats before assemblage of the same.

Fig. 6 is a similar View illustrating the final soldering of the tubes in the heads.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the tempering valve shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, the boiler in which the submerged heating unit is installed is indicated generally at 0. The water heating connections comprise, in this 0 illustration, a cold water supply main I0, from which there leads a downwardly extending U set of piping II, the outlet leg of which connects by piping 12, into the top of the cold water inlet chamber 13, in what is termed the outer header I4 5 of the submerged heater.

The hot water supply pipe is indicated at l5, as extending from the top of a hot water chamber l6, Fig. 2, in the upper portion of the outer header.

Connected in a side circuit with this hot water piping is shown a hot water storage tank l1, Fig. 1, havingan inlet l8, in the lower portion of the same from a rising run of the hot water piping l5 and an outlet IS, in the top portion of the same to a horizontally running portion of the hot water pipe further from the heating unit. A valve 20, in the upwardly extending outlet It, and another valve 2 I, in the horizontally extending inlet connection I8, permit this storage tank to be cut into or out of service.

When both valves 20 and 2| are open, there will 5 be a circulation of hot water from the rising run of pipe l5, through the storage tank up into the horizontal portion of pipe l5, providing an accumulation ofhot water available as required.

A hot water return line 22, valved at 23, and m equipped with suitable check valves 25, is shown entered in a lower portion at the inlet side of the cold water loop or U-connection, and by which necessary return of hot water from the complete system is utilized to partially heat the cold water 1 feeding into the heater unit.

A tempering valve is indicated at 26, in a connection 21, between the inlet side of the cold water loop, H, and the hot water supply piping H3, at a point below the inlet I8, to the storage tank 2( ll. This tempering connection 21 is shown under control of a valve 28.

By reference to Fig. '7, it will be seen that the tempering valve 26, comprises a valve body having a continuously open passage 29, for the hot water 25 flow in supply piping l5, and a hollow rotatable valve plug 30, which may be turned by handle 3|, to connect the cold Water inlet 32, in the valve body with the hot water passage 29, through a port 33, in the valve plug registering with port 261), in the tubular valve seat 26a. This enables admission of cold water from the cold water main into the hot water outlet or supply piping [5, at times such as when it may be found that the supply is becoming too hot. Valve 28 may be opened in day time in winter when much hot water is being used and. closed at night when less hot water is required.

At the bottom of the cold water loop, a drain such as indicated at 34, may be provided. Also a pressure relief valve such as shown at 35.

The submerged heater unit here shown in substantially the same as that of the John J Lavender Patent 2,006,836 of July 2, 1935, involving the outer header l4, heretofore referred to and an 4 inner header 36, so constructed and connected by tubing as to establish unrestricted and continuous flow of water being heated.

Fig. 2 herein substantially corresponds to Fig.

1 of the patent referred to, showing the outer 5 header M, as constructed with a horizontal par-. tition 31, extending the full internal width of the header and having a vertical partition 38, extending upwardly therefrom to the top of the header, thereby providing the inlet chamber l3, 5

in the upper portion of the header at one side of vertical partion 38, and the hot water outlet chamber IS, in the upper portion at the opposite side of said vertical partition and an exchange chamber 39, across the entire lower portion beneath the horizontal partition 31.

The back header 36, as in the patent referred to, simply has a Vertical partition 40, dividing the interior of the same into the two side-by-side exchange chambers 4|, 42.

The flow through the tubes connecting the headers is indicated by arrows and will be understood by noting that one set of tubes 43, connects the inlet chamber l3, in the upper portion of the outer header'with the upper portion of chamber 4 I, in the inner header. A set of return tubes 44, extends from the lower portion of exchange chamber 4|, back to the full width exchange chamber 39, in the lower portion of the outer header. A third set of tubes 45, extends from the other side of the wide exchange chamber 39, in the outer header to the lower portion of exchange chamber 42, in the inner header and a return set of tubes 46, extends from the upper portion of the latter chamber back to the hot water outlet chamber l6, in the upper portion of the outer header.

The two headers may be of cast metal and the tubes may be secured by the special method here disclosed.

Fig. 5 illustrates how the ends of the tubes are first tinned, as at 41, before they are entered in their seats in the inner walls of the headers and at 48, hoW these seats are also tinned. This view shows as well how the tube seats formed as tapered sockets 49, terminate at the inner smaller ends in outwardly conical seats 50, to receive and fit into the conically bored end faces 5|, of the tubes. The flow passages 52, within these conical seats then align with the bores in the tubes as in Fig. 6, to form continuous smooth water passages between tubes and headers.

To facilitate assembly, a special holder or assembling jig is usually employed, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, as consisting of a beam or bar 53, pivoted intermediate its ends on a bolt 54, carried by the stationary post or support 55, this revolubly mounted beam carrying socketed heads 56, 51, at its opposite ends for the headers I4, 36.

The method of assembly, after the tinning of r the opposite ends of the tubes and the tube seats in the headers is as follows: The rotatable membar 53, of the jig is secured against movement in the upright position of Fig. 4, as by means of the sliding bolts or latches 58. One of the headers is then seated in the lower jig socket 56 and secured as by clamp bolts 59, in the sides of the socket. A bolt 60, in the end of the socket carrying a plate 6|, supports the header in vertically adjustable relation. A spacer plate 62, which has been accurately bored in exact conformity with the seats in the header is positioned over the end of the header as by being located directly thereover as in Fig. 5. The tubes are then inserted through the openings 63, in this gaging and spacing plate into the seats 49-50, in the header and when all tubes are in place, the gage plate is slipped up over the tubes as to a position such as shown in Fig. 3, to space the upper ends of the tubes in proper position to fit the'correspondingly spaced seats in the other header (36), which then may be slipped over the upper ends of the tubes. After this is done, the cap 51 is placed over the upper header, secured in this position as by bolts 64', and then the bolts 65. in the sides of the cap are set up to center and position the header therein. The beam is shown as having a series of openings 64 for the bolts 64', so that the cap 51, may be secured in different positions on the beam, according to the length of tubes in the heater under assembly. Then the bolt 66, in the top or end of the head 51, may be turned in to force the follower plate 61, against the header to fully seat the latter over the ends of the tubes. This and the other endwise pressure applying bolt 6|], may be adjusted as found necessary to force the headers together over the opposite ends of the tubes to fully seat the tubes as in Fig. 6. Then, when this is accomplished, suitable flux and solder composition may be flowed in around the seated ends of the tubes as indicated at 68 in Fig. 6. A flange 59 on each header about the seated ends of the tubes forms a well for this molten solder composition.

After or before the tubes have been thus fixed in the headers the spacer plate 62 may be shifted to any desired intermediate position on the tubes and be secured in that position as by soldering the same to one or a number of the tubes.

Openings in the outer ends of the headers enable inspection of the internal connections between tubes and headers, these openings being closed by suitable plugs in the finished article which then may be utilized for clean-out purposes.

The intermediate spacer plate may be utilized as a point of connection for a chain, rod or other medium for suspending or supporting the intermediate tube portion of the heater unit. Thus in Fig. 1 this plate 62 is shown as engaged by a supporting cross bar 7|, suitably placed within the boiler.

The special new method of and apparatus for assembling and securing the headers and intervening tubing provide particularly practical and eflicient means for manufacture of heat exchangers of this type. The gage plates may be made of a size and shape to drop down Within and thus be positioned by the solder retaining Well 69, substantially as indicated at Fig. 5. In such case, the tubes are inserted through this gage plate into the seats in the header, but it will be appreciated, that if desired, the tubes could be set in the header and the gage plate be then slipped over the free ends of the tubes.

A check valve is indicated at 24, at the top or inlet side of the cold Water supply U connection. This entire loop and connected piping is shown as supported by a bracket or step 14, which may be welded or otherwise secured to the furnace or other convenient substantial support. The outer header I4 is shown as covered and surrounded by suitable insulation 15, protecting it from the flue gases in the smoke box of the furnace.

As will be clear from Fig. 7, the mixing valve 26 provides continuous free flow of hot water through the passage 29, which is branched around opposite sides of the tubular valve seat 26a. This valve can thus be utilized to admit more or less cold water into the hot water supply outlet and without at any time restricting the free flow of the hot Water. A valve shown at 16 in Fig. 1, may

be used to close off the portion of the hot water supply pipe |5, extending about the tank IT, to thus force all flow of hot water through this tank and on the other hand, valves 20, 2|, permit this tank to be cut out of service and all hot water bypassed around the same. The entry of hot water into the lower portion of tank "and flow out through the top'of the same produces a smooth natural flow of hot water without requiring any check valves or the like.

In Fig. 3, the heads 56 and 51, are shown as directly connected together by staybolts 12, with interposed turnbuckles enabling any necessary pressure to be exerted to firmly seat the ends of the tubes in the headers and to hold them so while being secured.

The spacer plate 62, as shown in Fig. 2, holds the tubes evenly spaced, so that they can not sag to shut off or restrict circulation and cause precipitation. This spacer or spreader thus keeps the heater in a self-cleansing condition. Another special feature of the hot water tank I1 is that it is connected entirely in the hot water side of the system, without any cold water connections. The circulation of the complete system is automatic and positive.

What is claimed is:

1. A water heating system, comprising in combination a submerged water heater, a cold water main having a downwardly extending loop connected with the inlet portion of said water heater, a hot water outlet pipe extending from another portion of said water heater and a variable adjustable tempering connection between said hot water outlet piping and the side of the cold water inlet which is most remote from the heater.

2. In a water heating system, a submerged Water heating unit, a cold Water main having a dependent loop connected with the inlet side of said heater unit, a hot water supply pipe extending from the outlet side of said heater unit and a hot water return line connected with the lower portion of said cold water inlet loop.

3. In a hot water heating system, a heater of the submerged type, a cold water supply main connected with the inlet side of said heater unit,

a hot water supply pipe extending from the outlet side of said heater unit, a hot water storage tank and inlet connection from said hot water supply pipe to the lower portion of said storage tank and a return connection from the upper portion of said storage tank to said hot water supply pipe at a point further from the heater unit.

4. In a water heating system, a submerged heater, 9. cold water supply main having a U-connection to the inlet side of said heater, a hot water supply pipe extending upwardly from the outlet side of said heater unit, a hot water return line entered into the lower portion of said cold Water U-connection, a drain and a pressure relief in the lower portion of said U-conneotion and a variable tempering connection extending from the supply side of said U-connection to said hot water supply piping.

5. In a water heating system, a submerged heater, a cold water supply main having a U- connection to the inlet side of said heater, a hot water supply pipe extending upwardly from the outlet side of said heater unit, a hot water return line entered into the lower portion of said cold Water U-connection, a drain and a pressure relief in the lower portion of said U-connection and a variable tempering connection extending from the supply side of said U-connection to said hot water supply piping, a hot water storage tank, an inlet into the lower portion of said storage tank from said hot water supply pipe and a supply connection from the upper portion of said storage tank to a part of the hot water supply pipe further from the heater unit.

6. A heater of the submerged type, comprising end headers and tubing connecting the same, said end headers having tapered tube seats with conical rests for the tubing at the inner ends of the same, said tubing having inwardly bevelled ends fitting over said conical rests, said headers having passages within said conical rests in line with the bore of the tubing and means securing said tubing ends seated as described.

'7. A heater of the submerged type, comprising end headers and tubing connecting the same, said end headers having tapered tube seats with conical rests for the tubing at the inner ends of the same, said tubing having inwardly bevelled ends fitting over said conical rests, said headers having passages within said conical rests in line with the bore of the tubing, means securing said tubing ends seated as described, including solder composition material surrounding said tubing ends and entered in said seats to said conical tubing rests, the headers having wells surrounding 

